Were my ancestors English or Irish?

Question

im american and my ancestors on my mom and dads side settled here in the 1700s. my moms maiden name is hamilton and her moms maiden name was richardson so i already know im definatly half english. my dads last name and my last name is Morris, i googled ancestry trying to see where that name comes from and it was under english and irish, how can it be both? anyone know where it actually originated?

Answer 1

Who cares?People seem to think their ancestory makes them superior or something.

Just be happy with who you are today.

Answer 2

Morris is common in both England and Ireland....but it is not a Gaelic surname so possibly it's ultimate origin would be from England anyway (Or the Normans.)

Beru, you need to read some updated history and genetics. Most English people have some celtic/prehistoric ancestry (actually more than have saxon origins!) so their ancestors were in the Isles just as long as the Irish,welsh and Scots (and I am of Irish descent myself btw.)

Answer 3

For information on genealogy try www.cindislist.com

It's an excellent site for research and has a massive amount of information on many countries and has many links to searching records on immigration and origins.

I have a friend with the surname Morris and her father was of Scottish origin.

Answer 4

Sorry to disappoint you I am a Canadian but the Irish have existed on these islands long before the English, the Irish Welsh and Scots are the indigenous races of these islands the English are not I am Irish and I know a good few Morrises so could well be of Irish origin

Answer 5

http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.c/qx/Morris-coat-arms.htm



this iste lists two sets of Morris each with own history and coat of arms - on ebeing Irish , the other welsh.





Definition: 1- Dark, swarthy 2- Possibly a modern form of the ancient Irish name "O'Muirgheasa".



Surname Origin: English, Irish



Alternate Surname Spellings: MORRISS, MORISSH, MORCE, MORSE



http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.c/Origin.IR/qx/Morris-coat-arms.htm



First found in Kerry, Galway and Mayo.Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Charles, Jeremy, John, Michael, Patrick, and Thomas Fitzmaurice all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1870; John FitzMorris arrived in New England in 1773.





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Spelling variations of this family name include: Morris, Morriss, Moriss, Morrice, Morice, Moris and others.First found in Herefordshire, a present day county in Western England, and scene of much border warfare between the Welsh and English through the Middle Ages, where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Patrick Morris who settled in Philadelphia in 1852; George Morris settled in Virginia in 1774; Humphrey Morris settled in the Barbados in 1635; Jenkin Morris settled in Virginia in 1635

Answer 6

I did 2 searches on yahoo: one for Oldfield genealogy, the other for Densmore genealogy. Each returned dozens of potentially good sites, for all the information you need. Have a go yourself, and good luck!!

Answer 7

the English existed before those Irish. You must be both Irish and English.

Answer 8

All the Morrises I know are Irish, but I'm no expert.

Answer 9

The only way to really know would be to do a family tree.

Answer 10

the answer from b beru is correct. Lucky you